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@pencanada.bsky.social
We defend free expression, aid writers in peril, and celebrate literature.
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Samira Mohyeddin awarded 2025 Ken Filkow Prize - PEN Canada
The Latest
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Samira Mohyeddin has won the 2025 Ken Filkow Prize, which recognizes those whose work has advanced freedom of expression in Canada.
Mohyeddin will receive the prize in Toronto on Friday, November 28, 2025 at the annual PEN Canada Awards Night.
Mohyeddin will receive the prize in Toronto on Friday, November 28, 2025 at the annual PEN Canada Awards Night.
Jimmy Lai, who turned 78 behind bars last week, was found guilty today of 2 counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law, and a third count of sedition under colonial-era legislation.
More in the 855-page verdict: hongkongfp.com/2025/12/15/i...
More in the 855-page verdict: hongkongfp.com/2025/12/15/i...
In full: The 855-page guilty verdict against media tycoon Jimmy Lai
The full verdict: Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of collusion and sedition in his national security trial.
hongkongfp.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Jimmy Lai, who turned 78 behind bars last week, was found guilty today of 2 counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law, and a third count of sedition under colonial-era legislation.
More in the 855-page verdict: hongkongfp.com/2025/12/15/i...
More in the 855-page verdict: hongkongfp.com/2025/12/15/i...
Today, writer and media publisher Jimmy Lai was found guilty on two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law, and a third count of seditious publications under the territory’s colonial-era sedition law.
www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...
www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...
Jimmy Lai found guilty in long-running national security trial - News & Events - English PEN
www.englishpen.org
December 15, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Today, writer and media publisher Jimmy Lai was found guilty on two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law, and a third count of seditious publications under the territory’s colonial-era sedition law.
www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...
www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...
How are the attacks on arts and culture in the U.S. impacting Canadian teachers, librarians and writers?
In an online (@cfetmu.bsky.social panel, Robin Stevenson (Canadian author, @robinstevenson.bsky.social) tells us about what teacher librarians are experiecning:
In an online (@cfetmu.bsky.social panel, Robin Stevenson (Canadian author, @robinstevenson.bsky.social) tells us about what teacher librarians are experiecning:
December 12, 2025 at 11:30 PM
How are the attacks on arts and culture in the U.S. impacting Canadian teachers, librarians and writers?
In an online (@cfetmu.bsky.social panel, Robin Stevenson (Canadian author, @robinstevenson.bsky.social) tells us about what teacher librarians are experiecning:
In an online (@cfetmu.bsky.social panel, Robin Stevenson (Canadian author, @robinstevenson.bsky.social) tells us about what teacher librarians are experiecning:
After months of threats, Iranian authorities have rearrested human rights defender, writer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.
Mohammadi was detained by plain clothed security forces after giving a speech at a memorial service for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi:
pen.org/press-releas...
Mohammadi was detained by plain clothed security forces after giving a speech at a memorial service for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi:
pen.org/press-releas...
Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi arrested in Iran, alongside other human rights defenders and journalists, one year after her temporary liberation
After months of threats, Iranian authorities have re-arrested writer, journalist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.
pen.org
December 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
After months of threats, Iranian authorities have rearrested human rights defender, writer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.
Mohammadi was detained by plain clothed security forces after giving a speech at a memorial service for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi:
pen.org/press-releas...
Mohammadi was detained by plain clothed security forces after giving a speech at a memorial service for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi:
pen.org/press-releas...
Reposted by PEN Canada
#Vietnam: Ahead of the 4th anniversary of writer Pham Doan Trang's unjust sentencing, we join @rsf.org @amnesty.org @penamerica.bsky.social @pressfreedom.bsky.social & others in calling on the international community to secure her release #FreePhamDoanTrang www.pen-international.org/news/vietnam...
Vietnam: Four years after Pham Doan Trang’s sentencing, the international coalition is once again urging her release — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldw...
12 December 2025 – Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the sentencing of prominent Vietnamese journalist, writer, and woman human rights defender Pham Doan Trang, an international coalition of non-gove...
www.pen-international.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:43 PM
#Vietnam: Ahead of the 4th anniversary of writer Pham Doan Trang's unjust sentencing, we join @rsf.org @amnesty.org @penamerica.bsky.social @pressfreedom.bsky.social & others in calling on the international community to secure her release #FreePhamDoanTrang www.pen-international.org/news/vietnam...
The story behind Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize winner, Diary Marif:
Despite considerable risk to his own safety, Marif travelled to Iraqi Kurdistan and met with members of the regional parliament, journalists, and organizations urging pressure on the authorities for the release of Sherwan Sherwani...
Despite considerable risk to his own safety, Marif travelled to Iraqi Kurdistan and met with members of the regional parliament, journalists, and organizations urging pressure on the authorities for the release of Sherwan Sherwani...
December 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The story behind Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize winner, Diary Marif:
Despite considerable risk to his own safety, Marif travelled to Iraqi Kurdistan and met with members of the regional parliament, journalists, and organizations urging pressure on the authorities for the release of Sherwan Sherwani...
Despite considerable risk to his own safety, Marif travelled to Iraqi Kurdistan and met with members of the regional parliament, journalists, and organizations urging pressure on the authorities for the release of Sherwan Sherwani...
Basking in glow of last week's PEN Awards Night ✨
Thank you to the writers, journalists, advocates and friends who joined us last week to celebrate the recipients of three awards, as well as achievements of our wider community.
Thank you to the writers, journalists, advocates and friends who joined us last week to celebrate the recipients of three awards, as well as achievements of our wider community.
December 4, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Basking in glow of last week's PEN Awards Night ✨
Thank you to the writers, journalists, advocates and friends who joined us last week to celebrate the recipients of three awards, as well as achievements of our wider community.
Thank you to the writers, journalists, advocates and friends who joined us last week to celebrate the recipients of three awards, as well as achievements of our wider community.
This week, your donation to PEN will make double the impact: each gift to PEN Canada this week will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $15,000.
At PEN Canada, impact means sending emergency grants to #writers forced into hiding or finding safe passage for them:
At PEN Canada, impact means sending emergency grants to #writers forced into hiding or finding safe passage for them:
Impact means working tirelessly to secure the release of journalists and authors unjustly imprisoned for speaking truth to power.
Help us help them.
Be a part of the collective effort to support #writers in danger: pencanada.ca/donate/
Help us help them.
Be a part of the collective effort to support #writers in danger: pencanada.ca/donate/
Donate - PEN Canada
Make a donation to PEN. Every dollar makes a difference. Other ways to give: leave a gift in your will, gift securities, become a patron.
pencanada.ca
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
This week, your donation to PEN will make double the impact: each gift to PEN Canada this week will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $15,000.
At PEN Canada, impact means sending emergency grants to #writers forced into hiding or finding safe passage for them:
At PEN Canada, impact means sending emergency grants to #writers forced into hiding or finding safe passage for them:
This week, your donation to PEN will make double the impact: each gift to PEN Canada this week will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $15,000.
At PEN Canada, impact means sending emergency grants to #writers forced into hiding, or finding safe passage for them.
At PEN Canada, impact means sending emergency grants to #writers forced into hiding, or finding safe passage for them.
December 2, 2025 at 9:09 PM
This week, your donation to PEN will make double the impact: each gift to PEN Canada this week will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $15,000.
At PEN Canada, impact means sending emergency grants to #writers forced into hiding, or finding safe passage for them.
At PEN Canada, impact means sending emergency grants to #writers forced into hiding, or finding safe passage for them.
We joined nine partner organizations to urge Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe to investigate death threats made against Indian #journalist and Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub and her father, and to provide immediate protection for both.
Read our letter here: buff.ly/HxeFVuq
Read our letter here: buff.ly/HxeFVuq
CPJ, partners urge Indian police to probe threats against journalist Rana Ayyub and her father - Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists and nine partner organizations on November 19 urged Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe to investigate death threats made against Indian journalist…
cpj.org
December 2, 2025 at 8:22 PM
We joined nine partner organizations to urge Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe to investigate death threats made against Indian #journalist and Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub and her father, and to provide immediate protection for both.
Read our letter here: buff.ly/HxeFVuq
Read our letter here: buff.ly/HxeFVuq
Diary Marif has won the 2025 Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize, which recognizes those that assist imperiled writers.
After a call for nominations from the public, the jury selected Marif due to his work to raise awareness of the plight of Kurdish journalists imprisoned in Iraqi Kurdistan.
buff.ly/JMj2BSN
After a call for nominations from the public, the jury selected Marif due to his work to raise awareness of the plight of Kurdish journalists imprisoned in Iraqi Kurdistan.
buff.ly/JMj2BSN
Diary Marif awarded 2025 Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize - PEN Canada
The Latest
pencanada.ca
November 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Diary Marif has won the 2025 Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize, which recognizes those that assist imperiled writers.
After a call for nominations from the public, the jury selected Marif due to his work to raise awareness of the plight of Kurdish journalists imprisoned in Iraqi Kurdistan.
buff.ly/JMj2BSN
After a call for nominations from the public, the jury selected Marif due to his work to raise awareness of the plight of Kurdish journalists imprisoned in Iraqi Kurdistan.
buff.ly/JMj2BSN
Reposted by PEN Canada
PEN International celebrates @smohyeddin.bsky.social, winner of the 2025 Ken Filkow Prize from @pencanada.bsky.social for her courageous journalism and defence of free expression.
Learn more about the prize and its past recipients:
pencanada.ca/defend-expre...
Learn more about the prize and its past recipients:
pencanada.ca/defend-expre...
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
PEN International celebrates @smohyeddin.bsky.social, winner of the 2025 Ken Filkow Prize from @pencanada.bsky.social for her courageous journalism and defence of free expression.
Learn more about the prize and its past recipients:
pencanada.ca/defend-expre...
Learn more about the prize and its past recipients:
pencanada.ca/defend-expre...
Samira Mohyeddin has won the 2025 Ken Filkow Prize, which recognizes those whose work has advanced freedom of expression in Canada.
Mohyeddin will receive the prize in Toronto on Friday, November 28, 2025 at the annual PEN Canada Awards Night.
Mohyeddin will receive the prize in Toronto on Friday, November 28, 2025 at the annual PEN Canada Awards Night.
Samira Mohyeddin awarded 2025 Ken Filkow Prize - PEN Canada
The Latest
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Samira Mohyeddin has won the 2025 Ken Filkow Prize, which recognizes those whose work has advanced freedom of expression in Canada.
Mohyeddin will receive the prize in Toronto on Friday, November 28, 2025 at the annual PEN Canada Awards Night.
Mohyeddin will receive the prize in Toronto on Friday, November 28, 2025 at the annual PEN Canada Awards Night.
#DayoftheImprisonedWriter: Today we call for justice for voices that continue to be silenced.
Head to pen-international.org to learn more about their cases, get prompts for solidarity letters, and discover how you can take action over the next four weeks.
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Head to pen-international.org to learn more about their cases, get prompts for solidarity letters, and discover how you can take action over the next four weeks.
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November 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
#DayoftheImprisonedWriter: Today we call for justice for voices that continue to be silenced.
Head to pen-international.org to learn more about their cases, get prompts for solidarity letters, and discover how you can take action over the next four weeks.
-
Head to pen-international.org to learn more about their cases, get prompts for solidarity letters, and discover how you can take action over the next four weeks.
-
Join us next week for an online panel on how the attack on #arts and culture in the U.S. is impacting Canada.
Panelists:
• Jordan Laffrenier, Associate Artistic Director, Canadian Stage
• Sascha Priewe, President, ICOM Canada
• Robin Stevenson Writes, award-winning Canadian author
Panelists:
• Jordan Laffrenier, Associate Artistic Director, Canadian Stage
• Sascha Priewe, President, ICOM Canada
• Robin Stevenson Writes, award-winning Canadian author
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Join us next week for an online panel on how the attack on #arts and culture in the U.S. is impacting Canada.
Panelists:
• Jordan Laffrenier, Associate Artistic Director, Canadian Stage
• Sascha Priewe, President, ICOM Canada
• Robin Stevenson Writes, award-winning Canadian author
Panelists:
• Jordan Laffrenier, Associate Artistic Director, Canadian Stage
• Sascha Priewe, President, ICOM Canada
• Robin Stevenson Writes, award-winning Canadian author
Reposted by PEN Canada
#Algeria: We condemn the 5-year prison sentence against poet #MohamedTadjadit for his poetry and peaceful activism.
Tadjadit will be featured in our #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign launching Sat 15 Nov. Join us to help free him.
Read more ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/joint-s...
Tadjadit will be featured in our #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign launching Sat 15 Nov. Join us to help free him.
Read more ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/joint-s...
Algeria: Joint statement demands immediate release of Algerian Hirak poet Mohamed Tadjadit risking a death penalty sentence ahead of November 11 hearing — PEN International | Promoting Literature & De...
10 November 2025: PEN International joins 19 Algerian, regional, and international organisations in calling for the immediate release of Algerian Hirak poet and activist Mohamed Tadjadit, who faces ba...
www.pen-international.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
#Algeria: We condemn the 5-year prison sentence against poet #MohamedTadjadit for his poetry and peaceful activism.
Tadjadit will be featured in our #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign launching Sat 15 Nov. Join us to help free him.
Read more ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/joint-s...
Tadjadit will be featured in our #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign launching Sat 15 Nov. Join us to help free him.
Read more ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/joint-s...
Reposted by PEN Canada
Event announcement 📚
Join us on November 13 for an evening with Canisia Lubrin, in a conversation with Souvankham Thammavongsa, as we celebrate Lubrin’s forthcoming book The World After Rain.
Tickets: buff.ly/AgafNX9
Join us on November 13 for an evening with Canisia Lubrin, in a conversation with Souvankham Thammavongsa, as we celebrate Lubrin’s forthcoming book The World After Rain.
Tickets: buff.ly/AgafNX9
October 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Event announcement 📚
Join us on November 13 for an evening with Canisia Lubrin, in a conversation with Souvankham Thammavongsa, as we celebrate Lubrin’s forthcoming book The World After Rain.
Tickets: buff.ly/AgafNX9
Join us on November 13 for an evening with Canisia Lubrin, in a conversation with Souvankham Thammavongsa, as we celebrate Lubrin’s forthcoming book The World After Rain.
Tickets: buff.ly/AgafNX9
PEN Canada joins 43 organizations and 123 individuals in open letter opposing “National Sprint” consultation on AI strategy, which proposed a mere thirty-day window on short notice.
pencanada.ca/news/open-le...
pencanada.ca/news/open-le...
Open Letter to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing “National Sprint” consultation on AI strategy - PEN Canada
pencanada.ca
November 4, 2025 at 3:44 PM
PEN Canada joins 43 organizations and 123 individuals in open letter opposing “National Sprint” consultation on AI strategy, which proposed a mere thirty-day window on short notice.
pencanada.ca/news/open-le...
pencanada.ca/news/open-le...
Reposted by PEN Canada
#Sudan: PEN International joins @ifjglobal.bsky.social and others in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Sudanese journalist Muamar Ibrahim, reportedly detained on 26 October by RSF in El Fasher.
Read more ⬇️
www.ifj.org/media-centre...
Read more ⬇️
www.ifj.org/media-centre...
Sudan: Journalist abducted by paramilitary group in El Fasher / IFJ
Muammar Ibrahim, a Sudanese freelance journalist who had been reporting on the war in El Fasher for the last two years, was detained by members of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on ...
www.ifj.org
October 29, 2025 at 11:47 AM
#Sudan: PEN International joins @ifjglobal.bsky.social and others in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Sudanese journalist Muamar Ibrahim, reportedly detained on 26 October by RSF in El Fasher.
Read more ⬇️
www.ifj.org/media-centre...
Read more ⬇️
www.ifj.org/media-centre...
Save-the-date for our annual PEN Canada Awards Night 💌
Together we'll celebrate a year of achievements in advocacy, literature and free expression.
This event is free, but a ticket is required. RSVP through Eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/1902334757...
Together we'll celebrate a year of achievements in advocacy, literature and free expression.
This event is free, but a ticket is required. RSVP through Eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/1902334757...
PEN Canada Awards Night
A night celebrating a year of advocacy, literature and free expression, featuring poetry readings from emerging Toronto voices.
www.eventbrite.ca
October 31, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Save-the-date for our annual PEN Canada Awards Night 💌
Together we'll celebrate a year of achievements in advocacy, literature and free expression.
This event is free, but a ticket is required. RSVP through Eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/1902334757...
Together we'll celebrate a year of achievements in advocacy, literature and free expression.
This event is free, but a ticket is required. RSVP through Eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/1902334757...
Reposted by PEN Canada
How is the attack on arts and culture in the U.S. impacting Canada? So many thoughts about this and I am looking forward to this conversation! Join us online Nov. 20.
(Thanks @cfetmu.bsky.social @pencanada.bsky.social and Mass Culture!)
(Thanks @cfetmu.bsky.social @pencanada.bsky.social and Mass Culture!)
October 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
How is the attack on arts and culture in the U.S. impacting Canada? So many thoughts about this and I am looking forward to this conversation! Join us online Nov. 20.
(Thanks @cfetmu.bsky.social @pencanada.bsky.social and Mass Culture!)
(Thanks @cfetmu.bsky.social @pencanada.bsky.social and Mass Culture!)
Reposted by PEN Canada
LISTEN: “On Book Banning:The New Censorship Consensus” my @ricochetmedia.bsky.social “ In Bed with the Elephant” conversation with #IraWells University of Toronto Professor of Literature & President of @pencanada.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i...
October 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
LISTEN: “On Book Banning:The New Censorship Consensus” my @ricochetmedia.bsky.social “ In Bed with the Elephant” conversation with #IraWells University of Toronto Professor of Literature & President of @pencanada.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i...
Limited tickets are still available for next month's Voices of Freedom event, at the #Toronto Reference Library.
Save your seat here:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/voices-of-...
Save your seat here:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/voices-of-...
Voices of Freedom reading at Toronto Reference Library
A popular reading series running for three years, featuring new work by writers, filmmakers and journalists who live in exile in Canada.
www.eventbrite.ca
October 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Limited tickets are still available for next month's Voices of Freedom event, at the #Toronto Reference Library.
Save your seat here:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/voices-of-...
Save your seat here:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/voices-of-...
Reposted by PEN Canada
‘Without justice, the balance of the world is undone. Justice is the gravity keeping us upright as humans.’
Leila Aboulela’s #PENPinterPrize 2025 speech – delivered at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social – is now in our online magazine, #PENTransmissions.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/10/t...
Leila Aboulela’s #PENPinterPrize 2025 speech – delivered at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social – is now in our online magazine, #PENTransmissions.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/10/t...
The Inaccurate Mirror: Leila Aboulela’s PEN Pinter Prize 2025 Speech
The Inaccurate Mirror: Leila Aboulela’s PEN Pinter Prize 2025 Speech
pentransmissions.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
‘Without justice, the balance of the world is undone. Justice is the gravity keeping us upright as humans.’
Leila Aboulela’s #PENPinterPrize 2025 speech – delivered at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social – is now in our online magazine, #PENTransmissions.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/10/t...
Leila Aboulela’s #PENPinterPrize 2025 speech – delivered at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social – is now in our online magazine, #PENTransmissions.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/10/t...
Reposted by PEN Canada
‘Or maybe a story that’s entirely different, fighting for its own space, its right to exist. Like a series of concentric circles fighting to stay whole’
In #PENTransmissions, Hajera Khaja on telling her friend’s story. w/ @pencanada.bsky.social.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/16/t...
In #PENTransmissions, Hajera Khaja on telling her friend’s story. w/ @pencanada.bsky.social.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/16/t...
This Is Not My Story to Tell
Hajera Khaja on telling her friend’s story.
pentransmissions.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:20 PM
‘Or maybe a story that’s entirely different, fighting for its own space, its right to exist. Like a series of concentric circles fighting to stay whole’
In #PENTransmissions, Hajera Khaja on telling her friend’s story. w/ @pencanada.bsky.social.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/16/t...
In #PENTransmissions, Hajera Khaja on telling her friend’s story. w/ @pencanada.bsky.social.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/16/t...